March 10, 2022 8:40 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Propelled by surging costs for gas, food and housing, consumer inflation jumped 7.9% over the past year, the sharpest spike since 1982 and likely only a harbinger of even higher prices to come. The increase reported by the Labor Department reflected the 12 months ending in February and didn’t include most of the oil and gas price increases that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Even before the war further accelerated price increases, robust consumer spending, solid pay raises and persistent supply shortages had sent U.S. consumer inflation to its highest level in four decades.
March 10, 2022 6:03 am
A new battle has formed involving a Washington County Row Officer and County President Judge John DiSalle. This time it involves an exchange of emails between the judge and Register of Wills James Roman over a resident seeking a marriage certification. Judge DiSalle claims a resident told him that Roman instructed the resident to contact the President Judge to seek a court order because the Register of Wills office did not issue such marriage record certificates. In an email, Roman denied there was an argument with the resident and says he was forced to suspend verification of non-marriage licenses because of “a complete mess” left by the previous Register of Wills. Roman ‘thanked’ the judge for “continued threats”, “attempted intimidation” and “clear micro-management of row offices”. Judge DiSalle then followed with another e-mail apologizing if “Roman felt intimidated”. DiSalle, however, then said he “didn’t appreciate his defamatory comments”. He also said, “Your staff has turned over twice in your tenure” and “your staff comes to my office with questions almost daily.” “My law clerk has become your defacto solicitor” yet you “accuse me of refusing to work with your office”. Judge DiSalle closed the letter with an offer to meet about the management of the Register of Willis office and asked to schedule a date and time. He also offered to schedule monthly or quarterly meetings.
March 10, 2022 4:08 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Players have voted to accept Major League Baseball’s latest offer for a new labor deal, paving the way to end a 99-day lockout and salvage a 162-game regular season. The union’s executive board approved the agreement in a 26-12 vote, pending ratification by all players, a person familiar with the balloting said, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement was authorized. MLB sent the players an offer Thursday and gave them until 3 p.m. to accept in order to play a full season. The deal was still pending approval by MLB’s owners.
March 10, 2022 4:05 am
(AP) – LVIV, Ukraine – Russian forces shelled a nuclear research institute in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city on Thursday, setting buildings on fire, said Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry. A shell hit a building where there is equipment that could release radiation if it were damaged, Gerashchenko said. According to the president’s office, there has been no change in the background radiation. The shelling caused a fire, but firefighters were able to put it out. Russian forces have already taken over two nuclear power plants in Ukraine, raising concerns about the security of the nuclear facilities.
March 10, 2022 4:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration says two North Korean missile launches in recent weeks were in fact test-firings of a new long-range ICBM. The tests were of a missile reportedly larger than an ICBM North Korea launched in 2017 that was assessed to be capable of reaching the United States. The administration warned on Thursday that a full-range test could soon follow. U.S. missile defense and reconnaissance forces in the Pacific have been placed in a state of “enhanced readiness” in preparation for a full-range test. That’s according to a senior administration official, who outlined the U.S. intelligence assessment on the condition of anonymity.
March 10, 2022 4:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A U.S. official says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is developing guidance that will ease the nationwide mask mandate for public transit next month. But the existing face covering requirement will be extended through April 18. The mask requirement had been set to expire on March 18, but is being extended by a month to allow the public health agency time to develop new, more targeted policies. The requirement extends to planes, buses, trains and transit hubs.
March 10, 2022 3:59 am
A California Borough man charged with attempted homicide requested a jury trial on Wednesday. Zachary Hooks, 29 is accused of shooting at a man from his apartment window back in October. According to California Police, Hooks got into an argument with Demetrius Ward of Ellsworth outside of his apartment building. Hooks went inside and opened fire on Ward. Ward fled in his car and police pulled him over a short time later. A search of the car revealed 30 grams of marijuana. Ward is facing drug possession charges from the event. Hooks is scheduled for trial in June.
March 10, 2022 3:57 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – All seven Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are explaining their 4-3 vote last month to pick a new map of the state’s congressional districts. Opinions released Wednesday show the Democrats in the court majority relied partially on how fair the various proposals would be to the two major parties. The job was left to the courts after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican majority state House and Senate deadlocked on drawing new lines for 17 congressional districts, reflecting the loss of a seat in the 2020 census. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to intervene. Candidates are currently circulating petitions to get on the May 17 primary ballot.
March 10, 2022 3:55 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – Winter gave us a chilly reminder that it’s not over yet. A sudden blast covered many neighborhoods in snow Wednesday morning and afternoon. Another system moving in is expected to drop several inches of snow on Saturday. Early indications are that parts of the region could get anywhere from 3 to 6 inches of accumulation. Moderate to heavy snow is expected. Travel will be difficult as road crews try to keep up. Expect the forecast to change slightly here and there as we get closer to Friday.
March 10, 2022 2:27 am
The treasurer of the Muse Volunteer Fire Department who was charged with stealing funds from the fire department entered an open plea of guilty on Wednesday. Toni Zombeck was scheduled for a jury trial this month and instead of taking her chances with a trial, decided to plead guilty to one felony charge of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds. Zombeck was charged with several felonies once it was determined that she and her son Alan had been using the department’s debit card for personal use. Zombeck’s attorney stated that she did not want to take the chance of being found guilty of several charges that could have meant consecutive sentences. Zombeck will be making restitution in the amount of $32,279.69 to the Muse Volunteer Fire Department. She will be sentenced on June 1. Her son Alan pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking and received 12 months probation. He is making restitution to the fire department in the amount of $14,280.
